Union Ministry of Urban Development to award three sanitary workers with Rs 5 lakh

The Union ministry of Urban Development, on 6 August, will honour a 50-year-old sanitary worker, B Nagaraj, based out of Coimbatore for his exemplary services in the field of garbage collection and segregation. Apart from Nagaraj, Nila Boro from Guwahati and Venkaiah from Hyderabad will receive the award as well. The ministry officials selected the three sanitary workers from 75 cities.

Nagaraj said he is honoured to receive this award and wants everyone to ensure a hygienic environment. Nagaraj is in Delhi to attend the event.

According to a report in the Times of India, Nagaraj wakes up at 5 am daily to reach his ward office and collect garbage from houses in ward number 23. He encourages people to segregate waste as well.

Nagaraj, who once didn't have enough money to make both end meet, has made over Rs 5 lakh by selling recycled waste to ITC. He also donated Rs 50,000 to the under-privileged so that they can pursue higher studies. Times of India quoted Nagaraj as saying, "My children dropped out of school and I want everyone to know the importance of education."

Radhakrishnan, west zone sanitary officer in-charge, said that while others found segregation and collecting garbage a burden, Nagaraj would work double shifts, collect waste from roads and also educate people.